Did Taiwan steal the chips?

The history of the semiconductor industry in Taiwan is often misunderstood, obscured by competing narratives, and outright misconceptions.

To understand why Taiwan sits at the centre of the U.S.-China rivalry, we must examine how Taiwan’s semiconductor industry actually came into being, writes Harry H.J. Tseng. Pexels photograph by Nic Wood

Opinion

BY HARRY H.J. TSENG

May 26, 2026

In the wake of the closely watched meeting between United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this month, Taiwan—home to the world’s most mature semiconductor ecosystem and producer of the most advanced chips—has naturally become a fo...

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